Coca-Cola goes green for London Olympics

In a move that will slash its CO2 emissions, Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) will supply its trademark fizzy beverages to the London 2012 Olympic Games on biomethane-powered lorries.

In a £1.75 million (€1.99 million) investment, CCE will use biogas sourced from a landfill site in Surrey to power a 14-strong fleet.

'In the Olympics, every delivery we make will be made on one of these vehicles, which will help us deliver our green objectives,' says Wendy Manning, customer logistics manager at Coca-Cola Enterprises.

'We aren't the experts in biogas, but what we do want to do as a business is made sure we grow successfully, but in the right way and in the most sustainable way.'

A refuelling station has been constructed in Enfield, Greater London and the soft drinks giant is currently testing biomethane in one of its 21-tonne trucks. To date, CCE is 'very pleased' with the results, according to Manning.

Looking to future and CCE could convert its 44-tonne fleet of trucks to run on biomethane as well.

'At the moment we are using diesel and natural gas, but we believe there is an opportunity to use biogas as that secondary gas and there are 15-20% savings [to be achieved] around that,' says Manning.